Jesse drove to a small Italian restaurant that we liked and often frequented on our dates. Like all restaurants in Carmel, this one had an outdoor seating area, the better to take advantage of the breeze and ocean views. This restaurant also arranged its tables in such a way as to allow the patrons quite a bit of privacy, being far enough apart that eavesdropping was difficult. This was always useful for me and Jesse, as occasionally mediator business came up when we were together.
The hostess led us to a table by the edge of the patio, and placed two menus on the table as Jesse pulled out my chair for me. The women smiled at us and said, "You too are an adorable couple." Jesse smiled at me and said, "Oh, that is all Susannah, it is not due to me at all." The hostess smiled even wider as she saw how I flushed at Jesse's words.
As the hostess walked away and the waiter walked towards us, Jesse reached forward and took my hand in his. He laced his fingers through mine and I tightened my grip in response. The waiter introduced us and took our drink orders, a Coke for Jesse and an iced tea for me. As the waiter left the table Jesse asked, "Why was your stepfather covered with bee stings when I picked you up?"
"Oh," I said, grimacing a bit at the thought of the mess that awaited me at home later, "Brad left his window open today and a hive of bees moved in." I quickly laid out the rest of the story as Jesse laughed. Brad really did have a bit of value as a source of entertainment, even if he was a blot on my existence. Jesse took my hand again and we chatted about trivial things, like school, and his job at the Historical Society. He was a huge hit with visiting researchers and tourists; they really valued his ability to describe nineteenth-century Carmel as if he had really been there.
After dinner, Jesse drove to the beach and we walked by the water and talked for a while. I still hadn't gotten over the vastness and the beauty of the ocean, despite having lived in California for over a year now. I admired Jesse's profile in the light of the fading sunset as he walked next to me, my sandals dangling from his hand. It was wonderful to know that if someone stood on the cliffs overhead, they would see someone beyond me walking along the beach. I stepped a little closer to Jesse and he wrapped his arm around my shoulder. I looked up at his face and he smiled down at me. I shivered with happiness at the sight.
"Are you cold, Querida?" he asked in a concerned tone of voice. He made a move to take off his jacket, but I shook my head at him and wrapped my arm around his waist.
"I'm fine! Just having a really good time. I love spending time with you," I said, standing on my tiptoes to press a kiss on his mouth. He reached a hand up to steady my head, and deepened the kiss. I reached up and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling his head closer to mine.
I was thoroughly enjoying myself, and was starting to get a little dizzy, when I felt a tug on my skirt. I broke away from Jesse with a gasp, taking two quick steps backwards. I looked down to see a small girl with blond curls who couldn't be more that four or five years old. Unlike most children, however, this girl was glowing slightly in the dim twilight. Jesse, much more used to ghosts than I ever would be, shot me a slightly disapproving look at my reaction and knelt down in the sand to speak to the girl on her own level.
"What is your name, little one?" he asked gently, so as not to startle her.
"My name is Cory," the child said haltingly, her lower lip quivering. "The bad man hit Mommy on the head, and she fell asleep. Then he hit me, and I went to sleep. Then I woke up, but Mommy wasn't there and neither was the bad man. Have you seen my Mommy?"
I sighed deeply. It seemed as though this date was not going to be one of our more normal ones.